Parachute harness



March 6 v. G. BOCKELMANN 3,

PARACHUTE HARNESS Filed Oct. 8, 1962 I INVENTOR. F/ g, 5 VICTOR e. BOCKELMANN United States Patent 3,124,326 PARACHUTE HARNESS Victor G. Bocltelmann, El Centro, Califi, assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed Oct. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 229,252

7 Claims. (till. 244-151) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), see. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The present invention relates to a parachute harness and more particularly to an improved construction primarily of the seat sling and leg straps of the harness so as to minimize body pressure applied to a wearer of the harness.

Previously, parachute harnesses have been constructed with narrow seat slings which have the leg straps wrapped around on top and below the sling giving the wearer an uneven surface upon which to sit, especially when he is sitting in place in an aircraft. The uneven surface of the sling produces pressure areas on the wearers body which rapidly induce discomfort, fatigue and reduced blood circulation. Further, present harnesses also have the leg straps attached to V rings which are located approximately 4 /2 inches inboard of the straps side of the harness, thus placing the wide part of the leg strap hardware in the bend area of the leg of the wearer. The present invention eliminates the pressure areas on the seat of the wearer by constructing the seat sling of a plurality of webs which are stitched lengthwise to one another with a pair of these webs extending from near the center of the seat sling to form the leg straps. By this construction the seat sling provides a smooth surface for the wearer to sit upon. Pressure at the bend area of the legs of the wearer are minimized by rolling each of the leg straps sidewise on itself to give a rounded edge rather than the sharper stiffer edge used on present harnesses. The V rings, to which the leg straps are connectable, are located on the outside of the side straps of the harness, thus taking the pressure of the hardware away from the bend line of the leg and applying the pressure of the hardware over a larger area. A further improvement of the present harness is the location of its transverse back strap immediately above the wrapped around section of the diagonal back strap on the side straps thereby keeping the transverse back strap from moving down to shear any of the stitching of the side straps when the parachute opens.

An object of the present invention is to provide a parachute harness which minimizes discomfort and fatigue to a wearer.

Another object is to provide a parachute harness which substantially eliminates any pressure areas to the seat of the wearer thereof.

A further object is to provide a parachute harness which substantially eliminates any pressure areas being applied to the seat and the legs of the wearer of said harness.

Still another object is to provide leg straps for a parachute harness which will apply a minimum of pressure to the legs of the wearer.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a parachute harness in which the pressure applied by the hardware used to connect the leg straps to the side straps is minimized.

A still further object is to minimize the shear forces on the stitching between the side straps and a transverse back strap of a parachute harness when said harness is used.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a parachute harness laid flat on its back with the side straps opened up to lie in a common plane with the seat sling in a similar manner as a persons coat which is laid on its back with the two front portions laid open in a common plane with the back of the coat.

FIG. 2 shows a section of the parachute harness taken along the line lI-Il of FIG. 1, the thickness of the webs being shown by line representation for illustration purposes.

FIG. 3 shows a section of the parachute harness taken along the line HIIII of FIG. 1, the thickness of the webs being shown by line representation for illustration purposes.

FIG. 4 shows a section of the harness taken along line IVlV of FIG. 1, the thickness of the webs being shown by line representation for illustration purposes.

FIG. 5 shows a section of the harness taken along line VV of FIG. 1, the thickness of the webs being shown by line representation for illustration purposes.

FIG. 6 shows a section taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 the following: the inside portions of side straps l0 and 12, which straps are adapted to travel along the side of the wearer; shoulder straps l4 and 16 adapted to run over the shoulders of the wearer and then form diagonal back straps l8 and 26; a transverse back strap 22; a seat sling 24 supported by the side straps 1i and 12; and leg straps 26 and 28 which are connectable to the side straps 10 and 12.

The side straps 10 and 12 are continuations of the seat sling 24 and are identical to one another. For convenience purposes only the side strap 10 is described in detail herein. The side strap 10 has a web 30 commencing at 32, then passing through a D ring 34, then passing upward and through both openings of an adapter 36 and then back through the D ring 34 down to a point 37, beyond which web 30 curves to form a top web portion 38 of the seat sling. Another web 39 starts from a point 40 and extends upward through the D ring 34 after which it extends downward to a stitch 42, beyond which web 39 curves to form a middle web portion 43 of the seat sling 24. A further web 44 commences at 45 and passes around the sliding center bar of an adapter 48, then through a breast connector 50, hence upward through the adapter 36, after which it forms the shoulder strap 14 and the diagonal back strap 18, after which it winds around and between the webs which make up the side strap 12 and passes through a V ring 51 which is connectable to a connector 52, then the web 44 is stitched to the side strap 12 along lines 53 and 54 after which it is folded back on itself along a diagonal line to form a bottom web portion 55 of the seat sling where it is stitched for a distance along one lengthwise edge to the adjacent web 43, and along the opposite lengthwise edge to a narrow web 56, after which at a point 57 in close proximity to the center of sling 24 the web 44 is turned substantially degrees to form the leg strap 28 which passes through the frame, around the sliding bar, and back through the frame of the connector 52. The web 44 ultimately forming the leg strap 28 is rolled sidewise on itself along that length of the leg strap which is to engage the bend in leg of the wearer, this rolled portion being shown at 58. As shown in FIG. 5 the rolled portion of the leg strap 28 is accomplished by rolling the web 44 sidewise on itself and stitching it along a line 59. The leg strap 26 is constructed in the same manner. In a like manner a still further web 60 commences at 61 and then passes through an adapter 62, after which it passes through a V ring 63 which is connectable to the connector 50, after which the web 69 extends upward and through an adapter 64, thence forming the shoulder strap 16 and the diagonal back strap 20, after which the web 60 Wraps around and between the webs 30 and 39 of the side strap and passes through a V ring 67 which is connectable to a connector 65, then it is stitched along lines 66 and 63 to the side strap 19 after which it is folded back on itself along a diagonal line to form another second from the bottom strap 70 of the seat sling and continues on to form the leg strap 26 in the same manner as described for web 44 above.

The transverse back strap 22 commences at 71 and passes around the end bar of the adapter 43, thereafter being stitched to itself and then extends between two layers of the webs 39 of the side strap 10 (as shown in FIG. 3) immediately above a point '72 where the web 60 wraps around the side strap 10, after which the transverse back strap 22 extends through the side strap 12 in the same manner as it extends through the side strap It) at a location just above a point 74 where the web 44 wraps around the side strap 12, after which the transverse back strap 22 passes around the end of the adapter 62, thereafter being stitched to itself and then the strap 22 terminates at 76. Accordingly, the transverse back strap is stopped at points 72 and 74 should it tend to move downward when the parachute opens, thus saving stitching 77 on the side strap 10 and like stitching on the side strap 12.

A D ring 78 is fixed to the side strap 12 in the same manner as the D ring 34 is fixed to the side strap 10, these rings being used for attaching a parachute. V rings 67 and 51 are fixed to the side straps 1t and 12 in an identical manner.

The seat sling 24 is composed of five elongated webs, a pair of these webs 70 and 55 each being stitched along a lengthwise edge to the middle web 43 and along an opposite lengthwise edge to the narrow web 56. The web 43 is stitched along its length to a web 38. Webs 43 and 38, after forming the seat sling converge in the areas 80 and 82, lie on top of one another and continue on to form thesidestraps 10 and 12. Webs 70 and 55 are continuations of webs 6t) and 44 respectively and continue to form the leg straps 26 and 28 respectively. Web 56 structurally attaches the outside edges of webs 70 and 55.

In the construction of the parachute harness it has been found suitable to use pliable webbing which is only of an inch thick rather than the A5 inch thick webbing which is commonly used.

In the operation of the device a person will wear the parachute harness with his seat engaging the seat sling 24 and with the diagonal back straps 18 and across his back. A parachute will be attached to the harness by the D rings 34 and 73. The connector is connected to the V ring 63 across the breast of the person and the leg straps 26 and 28 are brought across the persons leg and then connected via the connectors and 52 to the V rings 67 and 51 respectively. While the person is in a sitting position in an aircraft or elsewhere he will not sense any discomfort to his seat portion since pressure areas within the seat sling 24 have been eliminated. Because of the rolled portion 58 and a like rolled portion 84 of the leg strap 26, the pressure applied to the wearers leg while he is using the harness will be minimized. Further, when the parachute is deployed the strain applied to the harness by the opening of the chute will not break the stitching 77 of the side strap 10 and like stitching of side strap 12 since upward support is given to the transverse back strap 22 by the diagonal back straps 18 and 4 20 as they wrap around the side straps 10 and 12 at the point '72 and 74.

It is now apparent that the present invention provides a substantial gain in the art of parachute harnesses by eliminating pressure areas to the seat of the wearer and reducing the pressure applied by the leg straps to the legs of the wearer.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. In a parachute harness for a person wherein the harness has a seat sling and leg straps; the improvement comprising:

(a) said sling being constructed of a pair of elongate webs, each of which is connected along a lengthwise edge to a common edge of at least one other web forming the sling;

(b) said pair of webs first extending toward one another from opposite ends of the sling and then extending angularly from the sling to form said leg straps,

whereby bulkiness and unevenness of the sling is minimized so as to eliminate areas of pressure from being applied to the person wearing said harness.

2. In a parachute harness for a person wherein the harness has a seat sling joined at opposite ends to a pair of side straps and the side straps are joined to shoulder straps, the shoulder straps being joined to diagonal back straps which are each in turn joined directly to a respective side strap, a transverse back strap connected across said side straps and leg straps extending from the seat sling with each leg strap being connectable to a respective side strap; the improvement comprising:

(a) said sling being constructed of a pair of elongate webs in conjunction with a third and a fourth elongate web, said third and fourth webs extending lengthwise between the opposite ends of said sling;

(b) means connecting a lengthwise edge of each of said pair of webs to a common lengthwise edge of said third web and connecting the opposite lengthwise edge of each pair of webs to a common lengthwise edge of said fourth web with the pair of webs extending toward one another from said opposite ends of the sling; and

(0) each of said pair of webs, after extending lengthwise toward one another, then extending angularly from said sling to form said leg straps,

whereby bulkiness and unevenness of the sling is minimized so as to eliminate areas of pressure from being applied to the person wearing said harness.

3. The improvement as claimed in claim 2 wherein:

(a) said sling includes a further elongate web extending lengthwise between the opposite ends of the sling; and

(b) said means also connecting a lengthwise edge of the further web to the lengthwise edge of the third web opposite the connection of the third web with said pair of webs.

4. The improvement as claimed in claim 2 wherein:

(a) each of said pair of webs forming the leg straps is rolled sidewise on itself and is stitched along that portion which is adapted to engage the crotch area of the person.

5. The improvement. as claimed in claim 2 wherein:

(a) the connection between each leg strap and a respective side strap is made by a connector attached to the side strap in close proximity thereto and on an outside portion thereof with respect to the persons body.

6. The improvement as claimed in claim 2 wherein:

(a) at least a portion of each side strap is double webbed;

(b) each of said diagonal back straps is joined to a respective side strap by wrapping around the double webbed portion theerof; and

(c) said transverse back strap passes between the double webs of each side strap immediately above the wrapped around section of the diagonal back straps on said side straps.

7. In a parachute harness for a person wherein the harness has a seat sling joined at opposite ends to a pair of double webbed side straps and the side straps are joined to shoulder straps, the shoulder straps being joined to diagonal back straps which are each in turn wrapped around a double webbed portion of a respective side strap, a transverse back strap connected across said straps and the leg straps extending from the seat sling with each leg strap being connectable to a respective side strap; the improvement comprising:

(a) said sling being constructed of a pair of elongate webs in conjunction with a third and a fourth elongate web, said third and fourth webs extending lengthwise between the opposite ends of said sling;

(b) means connecting a lengthwise edge of each of said pair of webs to a common lengthwise edge of said third web and connecting the opposite lengthwise edge of each pair of webs to a common lengthwise edge of said fourth web with the pair of webs extending toward one another from said opposite ends of the sling;

(c) each of said pair of webs, after extending length wise toward one another, then extending angularly from said sling to form said leg straps;

(d) each of said pair of webs forming the leg straps being rolled on itself and stitched along that portion which is adapted to engage the crotch area of the person;

(e) the connection between each leg strap and the side straps being made by a connector attached to a respective side strap in close proximity thereto and on an outside portion thereof with respect to the persons body; and

(1) said transverse back strap being joined to the side straps immediately above the joints formed by the diagonal back straps and said side straps;

(g) said transverse back strap passing between the double webs of each side strap immediately above the wrapped around section of the diagonal back straps on said side straps.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 464,738 Steinmetz Dec. 8, 1891 1,080,958 Dhale Dec. 9, 1913 1,560,366 Ball Nov. 3, 1925 2,436,167 Gregory Feb. 17, 1948 2,672,309 Hatfield Mar. 16, 1954 

1. IN A PARACHUTE HARNESS FOR A PERSON WHEREIN THE HARNESS HAS A SEAT SLING AND LEG STRAPS; THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: (A) SAID SLING BEING CONSTRUCTED OF A PAIR OF ELONGATE WEBS, EACH OF WHICH IS CONNECTED ALONG A LENGTHWISE EDGE TO A COMMON EDGE OF AT LEAST ONE OTHER WEB FORMING THE SLING; (B) SAID PAIR OF WEBS FIRST EXTENDING TOWARD ONE ANOTHER FROM OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE SLING AND THEN EXTENDING ANGULARLY FROM THE SLING TO FORM SAID LEG STRAPS, WHEREBY BULKINESS AND UNEVENNESS OF THE SLING IS MINIMIZED SO AS TO ELIMINATE AREAS OF PRESSURE FROM BEING APPLIED TO THE PERSON WEARING SAID HARNESS. 